tiebreaker

American  

[tahy-brey-ker] / ˈtaɪˌbreɪ kər /

Often tiebreak

noun

1. a system for breaking a tie score at the end of regulation play by establishing a winner through special additional play, usually of a fairly short duration, as in tennis and soccer.

---

Etymology

Origin of tiebreaker

First recorded in 1960–65; tie + breaker ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tiebreaker

Ivory Coast finished second to Germany on a tiebreaker but advanced to the knockout stages for the first time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

But with 32 of the 48 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, new tiebreaker rules, and a table of third-placed teams to keep track of, staying across the various permutations is far from simple.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

For the first time at a World Cup, Fifa is using head-to-head records instead of group goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

Both teams have two games remaining and the Lakers have the head-to-head tiebreaker.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026

Since only two teams could go to the playoffs, the district’s tiebreaker rule went into effect: a coin toss.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger